5 minutes with… Nidhi Verma, The Cookaway

What would you be doing if you weren’t in the food industry?
I love what I do now and wouldn’t swap my job for anything else. But I guess if it wasn’t for my exciting food career then I would have been pursuing my marketing career within the Big 4 consulting world.

What was your first job?
One of my earliest jobs was working within the loans department for a bank before I went on to pursue my Masters in marketing. Banking and marketing might seem a million miles away from the work I do now, creating exotic dishes and spreading the joy of cooking, but all my past experiences have helped prepare me for running my own business - if you can ever be prepared for that!

What inspires you?
Meeting and following people’s fascinating culinary journeys as Chefs, restauranteurs, writers, and experts on cuisines is awe inspiring and electrifying. Exploring all the possibilities for telling these stories as part of The Cookaway offering, planning and launching new cuisines and offerings and thinking about all the exciting things I want to do next are some of the most exhausting parts of the job but also the most inspiring and exciting!

What’s the worst job you’ve done?
Many moons ago when I graduated as a mechanical engineer and as part of my internship, I landed a job working on the shop floor of a fridge manufacturing company. To be the only female working on a shop floor with hundreds of men was a very interesting experience to say the least.

What’s your favourite part of the job?
I love the fact that my job combines two of my greatest passions – people & food!

And your least favourite?
Tracking CPA/CPM/SEO and digital marketing analytics are not my strengths and are therefore my least favourite things to do

How about the food industry?
The food industry is incredibly fast-paced and challenging. With new trends, technologies and innovations happening constantly, it really keeps you on your toes - there’s never a dull moment and I love it for that reason.

Tea or coffee?
I am a Chai addict and can’t go without a cup of masala chai on any given day, so I’ll have to say tea - but I do love my early morning single shot Latte too!!

What would be your last supper?
I am a true Punjabi (North Indian) and would love to be served one of my favourite comfort foods ‘Kadhi Chawal’ i.e., Yoghurt Turmeric Curry served with rice and no one makes it quite like my mum in law!

What’s your motto?
Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Ice-cream with Coca Cola is probably the strangest - and definitely not for me!

What’s your favourite book?
It’s been ages since I read one as I can only make time for cookbooks and magazines. I’m currently enjoying discovering Greek food through MasterChef Winner Irini Tzortzoglou’s ‘Under the olive tree’. Irini has just come on board to develop the Greek recipes for The Cookaway.

Sweet or savoury?
Savoury for me please!